ON THE VANGUARD

FRY-DAY
“Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning.”
Exodus 27:20

One of the greatest miracles of Chanukah was the fact that the little oil found following the rebellion was enough to last for eight days. There was only enough to last for one day, yet it lasted longer. Chanukah commemorates an oil-based miracle and as such, more of the food eaten during these eight days tends to be fried. Foods such as latkes (fried potato pancakes) or sufganiyot (deep-fried doughnuts) are just two examples of the foods eaten during Chanukah. In today’s brief devotional, I want to take a look at the significance of the oil used to light both the Temple Menorah and the Hanukkiah.
The process of making pure oil was tedious. The one making olive oil would squeeze the olive and place the oil from the olive in one of two places. Only the first drop of oil would be the drop considered for pure oil. This follows the instructions given by God that He should have the first fruits of our labor. As the olive then was continued to be squeezed, the remaining would be placed in a canister for common use.
In reality, both canisters had the same type of oil in them. The oil smelled the same and tasted the same. It would be no different than having two accounts at the bank, if we were to put it into terms we are more familiar with now days. They both have money and both are with the same banking institution. But the difference would be having one marked ‘checking’ and the other marked ‘savings’. The savings is set aside from the account of common use. There is something special about the savings. In many cases this money is put aside for emergencies or for a desire of something special in the future. So it is with these two canisters. One jug was allowed common use while the other was for something special. Both were the same in contents, but the jug of only the first drops was marked with the seal of the high priest, signifying that it was ritually pure.
The rules and regulations of the Jewish people drove the enemy crazy. Because of this, when Israel was attacked, the enemy made it a point to defile and plunder the Holy Temple. In addition to sacrificing a pig on the altar of God, they also smeared pig blood on the walls of the Temple and made sure to defile every canister of pure oil they could find. When the battle had ceased and the Maccabees had been victorious, their mission was to rebuild the Temple and re-dedicate it to God. But as we have already learned, they were short on oil. One single canister was found, still holding the seal of the high priest as pure oil, and that one canister of oil was used to light the Menorah while they began the process of making more oil, also sealed by the high priest.
As this third night of Chanukah is celebrated this evening, I want to leave you with this simple challenge. Perhaps like the temple, you have been ransacked and left for dead. Your oil of gladness has been spilled out and defiled and you question if new life can come. You wonder if you will ever be able to burn with passion again. God is able to do anything. With a small amount God did a miracle with the oil. And with the little passion you still possess for God, He can start a new flame. I encourage you to dedicate, or re-dedicate yourself once again to Him, and watch as the little you have is multiplied during this season.